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But she claims she was not allowed to
go to the toilets to change and was left in tears after being forced to
strip by the check-in desk at Manchester Airport.

The teenager, who has a place to study law at university, was in a group of 18 friends all going to an 18th birthday party.

Take-off: A Monarch jet on the runway at Manchester Airport where the incident happened (file picture)

She said: ‘I feel distraught – it was
very embarrassing. I did not feel my outfit was inappropriate – there
were other passengers in similar dress. When the supervisor told me to
change rather rudely I was taken aback.

‘I agreed as I did not want to risk
not getting on the flight. However, when I asked if I could go to the
toilet to change and she made me change in front of everyone.’

Miss Townsend, from Lytham St Anne’s
in Lancashire, says that, in front of queueing travellers, she raided
her suitcase and put on a long kaftan that covered her so she could
wriggle out of her denim shorts and swap them for a pair of longer white
cotton ones.

The teenager, who lives with her
parents Lee, 51, and Helen, 49, added: ‘They had plenty of opportunity
to approach me while we were queuing. I could have gone away and
changed, maintaining some dignity.’

Miss Townsend says she was forced to raid her suitcase and put on a long kaftan that covered her so she could wriggle out of her denim shorts and swap them for a pair of longer white cotton ones

Mr Townsend, managing director of an
advertising firm, said: ‘To single out my daughter for her attire is
unacceptable. She was dressed appropriately.

‘She was understandably distraught. Other passengers were dressed in a risqué manner but not told to change.’

A Monarch spokesman denied she was told she could not go to the toilets to change, adding: ‘Miss Townsend was politely asked to change to comply with the airline’s dress policy.